Effect of Exercise on Sleep in the Middle-aged and Older adult: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE This study evaluated the influence of exercise on improving sleep quality in middle-aged and older patients with sleep disorders using subjective (PSQI and ISI) and physiological indicators (ActiGraph). The relationships between various moderators by which exercise affects sleep-disorder improvement were investigated. METHODS From the study's inception to December 31, 2021, the PubMed, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant studies. A meta-analysis was conducted with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 2.0, using the random-effects model. RESULTS The meta-analysis of 21 studies showed that exercise improves sleep quality (ES=-0.42, p=.00), insomnia severity (ES= −0.54, p=.00), and sleep efficiency (ES=0.37, p=.00). A walking-based exercise was effective in improving sleep quality (ES=-0.38, p=.00), insomnia severity (ES=-0.55, p=.03), and sleep efficiency (ES=-0.39, p=.00) in middle-aged and older patients with sleep disorders. A mind–body exercise was effective in improving sleep quality (ES=-0.52, p=.00). Regardless of exercise frequency, 90-120 min of exercise per week was important, and moderate-intensity exercise of more than 30 min/day improved sleep in middle-aged and older adults. CONCLUSIONS Exercise is an effective intervention for improving sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults with sleep disorders. The walking-based and mind–body exercises were effective, and differences according to the exercise intervention components were observed. Customized exercise interventions are possible depending on individuals’ physical strength and can be safe and economical

Effects of Aquabike Exercise on Gait Ability, Cardiovascular and Fall-related Fitness in Older Women with Obesity

PURPOSE This study aimed to verify the effects of aquabike exercise on the gait ability and cardiorespiratory and fall-related fitness of older women with obesity. METHODS The participants were divided into 65–74 years old and 75–82 years old groups. Verified cardiorespiratory fitness and physical changes were compared between the groups. The aquabike exercise used in this study was a combination of water exercise and a fixed bicycle on the ground. A 50-min aquabike exercise was performed three times weekly for 12 weeks. RESULTS Our study's results revealed that cardiorespiratory fitness did not show any significant changes between the groups × period of forced expiratory volume, maximum 80% exercise duration, maximum heart rate, and pedals per minute. The number of revolutions increased significantly after the exercise. In relation to gait, there was no significant change between the group × period of time required for walking 6 m and the number of steps, whereas the time required and the number of steps required to walk for 6 m within the groups significantly decreased after exercise. There were no significant changes between the groups × period in 3-m round-trip, five chair-standing, 30-s chair-standing, and relative grip strength of fall-related physical variables; however, the time required to walk a 3-m round-trip and five chair-to-stand within the groups decreased after aquabike exercise. CONCLUSIONS Aquabike exercise is an effective mediation strategy for older women with obesity, as it is an exercise method that maintains a vibrant life in older age groups as well as walking ability by improving cardiopulmonary and fall-related physical strength

Clinical Efficacy of Primary Tumor Volume Measurements: Comparison of Different Primary Sites

ObjectivesThe purpose of study was to determine the clinical efficacy of primary tumor volume measurements of different primary sites in the oropharynx compared to the oral cavity.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 85 patients with oral cavity or oropharynx cancer. The tumor area was manually outlined from axial magnetic resonance (MR) series. The software calculated the tumor volumes, automatically. The values of the primary tumor volumes were then subdivided into separate groups (≤3,500 mm3, >3,500 mm3).ResultsThe prognostic indicators were the cT and cN (oral cavity); age, primary site, cT, cN, and primary tumor volume (oropharynx) on the univariate analysis. There was no significant prognostic factor for oral cavity cancer on the multivariate analysis. Primary site, cN, and primary tumor volume were independent prognostic indicators for oropharynx cancer by multivariate analysis.ConclusionPrimary tumor volume measurement is a reliable way to stratify outcome, and make up for the weak points in the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system with oropharynx cancer

Metal-supported SOFC with an aerosol deposited in-situ LSM and 8YSZ composite cathode

This study reports the micro-structural and electrochemical properties of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) with an La0.8Sr0.2MnO3−d (LSM)/8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) composite cathode, fabricated at room temperature using the aerosol deposition process (ADP). The composite cathode fabricated with the ADP technique shows uniform distribution of components and pores and the interface between the cathode and the electrolyte displays excellent joining properties. The area specific resistance (ASR) of the ADP-LSM/8YSZ sample is approximately 1.50 Ω cm2 at 800 °C, so this sample shows a significantly lower ASR value than the values usually reported for samples fabricated by the in-situ treatment method for MS-SOFCs. The power density of the cells with the ADP-LSM/8YSZ cathode coated on MS-SOFCs shows a maximum value of 0.38 mW cm−2 at 800 °C and stable performance in the severe thermal durability test. Therefore, these research results can broaden the opportunities for adoption of the ADP coating processes to fabricate cathode materials in MS-SOFCs

The Benefits and Risks of Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives. This study evaluated the benefits of performing prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) with total thyroidectomy (TT) in management of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients who were clinically node-negative at presentation. Methods. A total of 257 patients with stage T1 or T2 PTC and without preoperative evidence of lymph node involvement (N0) were enrolled in this prospective study. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) a total thyroidectomy (TT) group (n=104) or (2) a TT plus CND group (n=153). The two groups were compared for their perioperative data, complication rates, disease recurrence rates, and clinical outcomes. Results. The two groups of patients were similar in age, sex ratio, follow-up duration, and tumor size (P=0.227, 0.359, 0.214, and 0.878, resp.). The two groups showed similar rates of disease recurrence (3.9% in the TT group versus 3.3% in the TT plus CND group); however, complications occurred more frequently in the TT plus CND group; especially transient hypocalcemia (P=0.043). Conclusions. Patients treated with TT plus CND had a higher rate of complications with similar recurrence rate. We believe that CND may not be routinely recommended when treating patients with PTC

Involvement of mTOR signaling in sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced hypopigmentation effects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) acts as a potent lipid mediator and signaling molecule in various cell types. In the present study, we investigated the effects of SPC on melanogenesis and SPC-modulated signaling pathways related to melanin synthesis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Melanin production was measured in Mel-Ab cells. A luciferase assay was used to detect transcriptional activity of the MITF promoter. Western blot analysis was performed to examine SPC-induced signaling pathways.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SPC produced significant hypopigmentation effects in a dose-dependent manner. It was found that SPC induced not only activation of Akt but also stimulation of mTOR, a downstream mediator of the Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, SPC decreased the levels of LC3 II, which is known to be regulated by mTOR. Treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin eliminated decreases in melanin and LC3 II levels by SPC. Furthermore, we found that the Akt inhibitor LY294002 restored SPC-mediated downregulation of LC3 II and inhibited the activation of mTOR by SPC.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data suggest that the mTOR signaling pathway is involved in SPC-modulated melanin synthesis.</p

Potential Cause of Decrease in Bloom Events of the Harmful DinoflagellateCochlodinium polykrikoidesin Southern Korean Coastal Waters in 2016

Blooms of the ichthyotoxic dinoflagellateCochlodinium polykrikoidesare responsible for massive fish mortality events in Korean coastal waters (KCW). They have been consistently present in southern KCW over the last two decades, but they were not observed in 2016, unlike in the previous years. Despite extensive studies, the cause of this absence of this dinoflagellate bloom remains largely unknown. Thus, we compared physico-chemical and biological data from along the Tongyeong coast between 2016 and the previous four years (2012-2015). The averages of water temperature and salinity in August, 2016 were significantly (p&lt; 0.001) different from those in the previous years. The amount of Changjiang River discharge, which can affect the environmental conditions in the southern Korean coastal area via ocean currents, was larger than in the previous years, resulting in a reduction in the salinity level in August when blooms ofC. polykrikoidesusually occurred. Moreover, compared to previous years, in 2016, there was a weak expansion ofC. polykrikoidesblooms in the Goheung-Oenarodo area whereC. polykrikoidesblooms were annually initiated in KCW. Lastly, the strong winds from the typhoon Lionrock may also have contributed to the early termination of this dinoflagellate bloom. Together with these findings, the combination of these environmental conditions in 2016, unlike in previous years, may have inhibited the formation ofC. polykrikoidesblooms along the Tongyeong coast